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Harnett staff highlight rising housing costs, UNC program participation to inform county housing strategy
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Summary
County staff presented findings from an 18-month UNC affordable-housing initiative showing increased cost burden since 2019, population growth pressures, and constraints from land costs and limited tax-credit awards.
County staff briefed commissioners on findings from the UNC School of Government "Our State Our Homes/Carolina Cross 100" program and local implications for housing affordability.
Deputy County Manager Colley Price (self-identified) and Long Range Planner Sarah Alber (self-identified) summarized program activities and regional comparisons, noting that Harnett County households have higher cost burdens in 2026 than in 2019 and that median rents and home prices have risen substantially. Alber said the team’s vision is "to create a community where everyone has access to safe, high-quality housing near essential services."
General Services Director Barry Belovin (self-identified) described financing constraints for developing affordable housing, including the cost of land and the limited number of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit awards from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency. He noted HOME program income thresholds and cautioned that housing subsidies can still leave recipients cost-burdened if income and local costs diverge.
Presenters pointed to an asset inventory, interactive maps, and local strategies (preservation, production, workforce housing, and partnerships) as next steps. Commissioners thanked the presenters and asked staff to continue work on implementation details and community outreach.
The presentation included a short video with testimonials from program participants and local housing practitioners who emphasized the relationship between housing, health, and economic mobility.
